Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 264

The Mohist and Gongshu families, both renowned for their expertise in mechanical arts, have harbored a deep-seated hatred for each other for nearly three hundred years, dating back to their founders, Mozi and Gongshu Ban.

Both families have their own strengths. If they can capture the various mechanical beasts of the Mo family during this attack on the Mechanical City and thoroughly study the core technology of the Mechanical City, then the Gongshu family will be able to forever suppress the Mo family and become the number one family in mechanical arts.

Gongshu Chou had heard over the years that the Agricultural School was also developing mechanical arts, but he scoffed at it: the transmission of knowledge in this era is strict and harsh. Without the inheritance, starting from scratch to deduce and develop mechanical arts, it would take three hundred years to become the next Gongshu family or Mo family. And three hundred years later, the Gongshu family would have already developed more powerful mechanical arts.

Moreover, besides time, talent is even more indispensable: Mozi's mechanical beasts were created three hundred years ago, and the Mo family has not changed their core function to this day.

In contrast, Gongshu Chou felt good about himself. He believed that his talent might be no less than that of his ancestor Gongshu Ban: Potu Qilang, which was specially designed to restrain large mechanical beasts; Liudao Lun Jiazi Lock, which was used to protect confidential documents; and his greatest work, Mirage, which were all great works that were no less than any other mechanical beast.

Meanwhile, Master Ban, the Mohist's arch-rival, could only make minor repairs to Mozi's works, showing that his vision was still stuck three hundred years in the past.

Admittedly, Gongshu Chou and his family had the full support of the empire, while Master Ban had many Mohist anti-Qin affairs to deal with in addition to his research on mechanical arts. However, it is a fact that the gap between the two sides has widened.

Gongshu Chou couldn't wait to enter the Mechanized City!

Before that, the condition of the corpse in front of him was very interesting. Gongshu Chou had a bold idea: if this work could be successful, it would be another priceless technology that he could leave behind!

"Wushuang is dead." Chi Lian was somewhat depressed. Unlike Wei Zhuang, no matter how much she forced herself to be cold-blooded and ruthless, the former Princess Honglian would never truly be heartless.

“His death was not painful.” Wei Zhuang has no need for useless people. Although Wushuang Gui has considerable value, compared to his plan, he is nothing more than a pawn that can be discarded at any time.

Wei Zhuang knew that Gai Nie was being watched closely, so even if Gai Nie was powerless to act, Wushuang Gui's fate was sealed: his strength would be quite good in military formations, but unfortunately, it was no match for true martial arts masters.

“I’ve already sent the signal to the Wolf King to make a move. Bai Feng will lead him to find Gai Nie’s whereabouts.” Chi Lian knew that Wei Zhuang disliked indecisiveness, so her voice turned cold as she forgot about Wushuang Gui and focused on the next step of the plan.

Wei Zhuang was well aware of the Wolf King's strength: under normal circumstances, his senior brother Gai Nie could kill him with a single sword strike.

The Wolf King's wolf pack and beast language skills are also very functional and can be used in a wide range of situations. If he were to ambush Gai Nie, there is a good chance that he would be killed, which would be a waste. But as the saying goes, if he is killed while carrying out a mission, it means that he is not strong enough.

Even if a weak person with insufficient strength has value in chaotic times, they are only useful if they survive.

Wei Zhuang's ideology was deeply ingrained, and he began to view problems more from the perspective of an assassin: "Tell Bai Feng not to lose track of the target, and at the same time, have him activate the Spy Wing Bird to search for the eyes around Gai Nie, so that he doesn't expose himself when he shouldn't."

“He’s a smart man; he’ll know what to do.” Chi Lian smiled cruelly. “My snake formation seems to have no use.”

"It will be useful." Wei Zhuang's voice was deep: "Have the Black Qilin and the Hidden Bat arrived?"

“Yin Fu is still on his way from the Southern Frontier. As for Lin’er, we haven’t found any tricks the farmers have done to him, but the farmers wouldn’t leave him untouched…” Chi Lian said with some concern.

Three years ago, when the Black Qilin of the Reverse Sands targeted Lu Wei, the leader of the Farmer's Clan, he was captured and taken hostage. At that time, Wei Zhuang thought that the Reverse Sands had lost this "Thousand-Faced, Unpredictable, Jade Qilin". But unexpectedly, at the beginning of this year, the Farmer's Clan released him back.

This is not good news. Lu Wei has many tricks up his sleeve, and the fact that Black Qilin continues to stay in the quicksand is actually a hidden danger.

But Wei Zhuang was unwilling to simply kill the Black Qilin and leave it unused.

This is also a calculated move: there must be something wrong with the Black Qilin, and if the problem is serious, it may threaten the very survival of the entire Quicksand organization, but Wei Zhuang has no choice but to use it.

Black Qilin will be of great use, especially in this attack on the Mechanized City.

Wei Zhuang could only confidently believe that he was capable of using the Black Qilin appropriately: thus thwarting Lu Wei's scheme while also allowing Liu Sha to reclaim its most lethal weapon.

Whether what Wei Zhuang considered appropriate was actually appropriate according to Lu Wei's calculations, only Lu Wei himself knows.

“That peasant hero might not be unwilling to see the breach of the Mechanized City.” Wei Zhuang said calmly, “Let him prepare himself. He will continue to do what he does best in the Mechanized City.”

"Yes."

...

Lu Wei led Ji Yan to the location of the mechanical city that the Moon Goddess had revealed in advance. Standing on the cliff, they could see a vast expanse of mountains and ridges.

The city is surrounded by steep cliffs and deep valleys for hundreds of miles, with rushing rivers flowing below, creating a rugged terrain and unique natural scenery.

Due to abundant moisture, clouds and mist swirl among the mountains. These seas of clouds appear and disappear suddenly. To find the location of the Mechanized City in such an environment, even though the Yin-Yang School concealed their infiltration of the Mohist School, the Empire could certainly do it at a higher cost. However, Liu Sha said they had a way to find the Mechanized City more easily, and Ying Zheng naturally agreed.

His Majesty the Emperor had a good impression of Quicksand because ten years ago, it was Quicksand's master, Wei Zhuang, who personally took the head of Yan Dan, who had planned the assassination attempt on Qin.

The planned rebellion in Xinzheng was kept secret by Xiong Qi and Luo Wang, and the imperial court was unaware of it.

If they can capture the Mechanized City this time, the Quicksand will have made a greater contribution and will be completely regarded as the empire's lackey in the eyes of the world.

However, once the news of Yan Dan's feigned death is exposed during this attack on the Mechanized City, the First Emperor's anger will burn fiercely!

But Wei Zhuang obviously wouldn't care about that.

"The Heroic Leader!" "The...Heroic Leader..."

At a pre-arranged location, Lu Wei met Wu Kuang and Chen Sheng, who had been wandering in the Chu region for three years.

Compared to Wu Kuang's approval, Chen Sheng was still somewhat unaccustomed and embarrassed to be called Lu Wei as the leader of the knights.

Three years ago, when Lu Wei and Chen Ping learned that Luo Wang had sent Chen Sheng away with a very simple escort team, they immediately understood Luo Wang's plan: they wanted Chen Sheng to escape on his own.

This tactic might fool Chen Sheng, but to deceive the chivalrous leader would be a bit disrespectful.

Wu Kuang was immediately dispatched to Wei to wait for the escort team and rescue Chen Sheng ahead of schedule. Needless to say, the two brothers had a heart-to-heart talk after being separated for more than ten years. Afterwards, the two did not return to Daze Mountain. Instead, at Wu Kuang's suggestion, they followed the orders of the leader of the chivalrous knights and went to Chu to find someone to duel as lone heroes.

Chen Sheng had no objection to this; as long as he could be with his brothers, he was not afraid to go anywhere.

Of course, only Chen Sheng became famous, while Wu Kuang was only known for his wisdom.

Over the past three years, the name of the Black Swordsman Sheng Qi has become increasingly renowned. As a lone wolf, he was also recruited by the Empire when it conscripted martial arts forces to besiege the Mechanized City.

This must be a scheme by the Luo Wang organization. Zhao Gao knew that Sheng Qi had close ties with the peasants, so he deliberately recommended him to Li Si, with the aim of using one to devour another and leaving the peasants' mark in the attack on the mechanical city.

Regardless of what this trace might do in the future, it's never wrong to make arrangements first.

After receiving the empire's invitation, Chen Sheng calmly neither accepted nor refused, but instead consulted his brother Wu Kuang for his opinion.

He had neither goodwill nor dislike toward the Mohists, but when Wu Kuang said that this action could help the peasants, Chen Sheng decisively agreed in the end.

"The main force attacking the Mechanical City is Quicksand. Although you are under orders from the Empire, after joining forces with Quicksand, be careful to preserve your strength."

Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang were ostensibly wandering knights-errant, unrelated to the peasant faction, planted by Lu Wei through a scheme using the Luo Wang network. However, they still had to assume the roles of traitors to the peasant faction, which they were already accustomed to, while secretly serving the interests of the peasant faction.

It was certainly dangerous to let them infiltrate the Mechanized City during this attack, but Lu Wei also had more pieces at his disposal within the city, which reduced the probability that he would need to take action personally.

While Lu Wei was giving instructions to the two of them, Xiao Yan'er stood straight beside Lu Wei, her high ponytail swaying gently in the wind, expressionless and silent.

But the aura she exuded, whether intentionally or unintentionally, shocked Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang: the woman beside this chivalrous leader was incredibly powerful.

"Yes, Chief Hero, what is our purpose in following the Qin Kingdom this time?" Wu Kuang asked proactively. He knew that the ultimate goal was to break through the Mechanized City, but there were many possibilities in the process.

"The remnants of the six kingdoms will soon gather in the Mechanized City. Once you enter the city, be ruthless towards those nobles from the six kingdoms." Lu Wei casually stated the targets for the killings. Wu Kuang and Chen Sheng's eyes narrowed at this, but they accepted the order without question and withdrew swiftly.

Killing the nobles of six states was not a psychological burden for either of them.

"Dongjun of the Yin-Yang School should have already entered the Mechanical City. How can we find her?"

Once the bystanders had gone far away, Ji Yan stepped forward, her pupils reflecting the distant sea of ​​clouds beneath her delicate, slender eyebrows, and asked in a clear voice.

"Dongjun's ultimate target is Yan Dan, and the method she will use will ultimately be by manipulating Yan Dan's daughter. If we grasp this point, finding her or plotting against her will not be difficult."

Lu Wei smiled. Knowing enough secrets, other people's plans were transparent to him.

"It rains a lot at night outside these mountains, let's head into the city!"

Chapter 310 Meeting Gao Yue for the first time

The main part of the mechanical city is hidden in a valley surrounded by mountains. Apart from the entrance at the regular Ink Pool, the valley is not only protected by natural cliffs, but also by various deadly traps.

For three hundred years, with the reinforcements made by the disciples of the Mohist school, these traps and mechanisms have become incredibly sophisticated and deadly.

However, simple mechanisms are rigid after all. Those fixed attack methods are life-devouring machines for ordinary people, but for a martial arts master like Lu Wei, even if he really triggers them, it is difficult for him to fail.

However, if that were the case, the Mo family disciples would discover the intrusion when they came to inspect later. The Mo family's secret chamber could also report at any time which mechanisms had been triggered, thus exposing Lu Wei's whereabouts through the activated mechanisms.

Therefore, Lu Wei and Ji Yan need to be extra careful to avoid triggering the mechanisms.

"The climate here is very humid, yet the Mo family's traps and mechanisms can remain unaffected and accumulate power for a long time, which shows that they have special methods for preventing moisture and rust on the mechanism parts."

Ji Yan, with her wide range of interests, actively spoke up while following in Lu Wei's footsteps: "Our farming family is not mature enough in this area. We can dismantle some parts after the mechanical city is breached and send them to the workshop in Jing County to try to study and crack the technology."

She was so focused on the farmers' interests that she paid attention to many details. In contrast, Lu Wei, who planned to subdue the Mo family in the future, didn't even think about taking the opportunity to copy their technology now: "Well, this matter will be handled when we leave."

"Yes."

The two leaped into the valley from the outer cliff on a bright, sunny afternoon.

Having evaded the watchful eyes of the numerous Mohist disciples, both overt and covert, Lu Wei and Ji Yan vanished silently into the depths of the Mechanized City's covered bridge...

...

"Is this the Mo Family's Mechanical City?"

Tianming jumped off the Vermilion Bird Mechanism, blinked at the slightly dim surroundings, and a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes.

"This is just the entrance; the Mechanical City is still inside. Paradise won't be this narrow!"

Master Ban noticed that Tianming was in low spirits because he had mistaken Mo Guichi for the entirety of the Mechanical City, so he stroked his beard and laughed heartily as he explained to him.

The child had been looking forward to the 'paradise on earth' he had heard about along the way. Master Ban now knew that Tianming was the son of Jing Ke, so he was more tolerant of him.

Following Tianming and Master Ban, those who stepped down from the Vermilion Bird were Shaoyu, Gai Nie (whose complexion had improved slightly), and Xiaoyaozi, the leader of the Taoist Human Sect.

The reason why the people who were originally supposed to be in the Xiang family's caravan suddenly switched to the Vermilion Bird and came to the Mechanized City with Xiaoyaozi dates back to a few days ago:

After deciding to withdraw from the camp, Xiang's convoy was ambushed by the Canglang King's wolf pack shortly after entering the Chu region from the Taihang Mountains. They paid a considerable price to force the Canglang King to retreat before escaping the wolf pack's pursuit.

Although the Wolf King's strength was not outstanding compared to Ji Bu, the strongest fighter in the caravan at the time, the Xiang family caravan was still at a disadvantage overall because it was nighttime and the wolf pack was assisting in the attack.

In this critical situation, the severely injured Gai Nie had no choice but to take action again, joining forces with Ji Bu to severely injure the Wolf King.

After the Wolf King fled bleeding, Ji Bu wanted to pursue and kill him, but Gai Nie was seriously injured and had completely fainted. If he left, he might fall into the enemy's trap, so he had no choice but to give up.

After giving Gai Nie a rough diagnosis, Fan Zeng believed that he needed to seek medical attention as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.

It was under these circumstances that Master Ban of the Mo family arrived just in time at dawn, riding the Vermilion Bird, and coincidentally, he also brought Xiaoyaozi along. It was truly a stroke of luck that solved a major problem.

Judging from the successive attacks by Wushuang Gui and Canglang Wang, the pursuit by Liusha is tightening step by step. If they still rely on riding horses to reach the Mechanical City, the journey ahead will inevitably be fraught with danger. Moreover, Gai Nie's injuries also require a suitable environment to recover as soon as possible. Therefore, Fan Zeng suggested that Gai Nie, Tianming, and Shaoyu ride the mechanical Vermilion Bird to enter the Mechanical City first, while the rest of the Xiang clan will arrive a few days later as originally planned.

The Vermilion Bird has a limited capacity to carry people. Although there is theoretically room to accommodate another Ji Bu, the Xiang clan's forces would be completely unguarded.

In the end, the Suzaku machine set off carrying only three additional people.

On the way, Xiaoyaozi provided initial treatment for Gai Nie's injuries, which helped them successfully escape Bai Feng's flock of birds in the quicksand when they were almost at the Mechanical City.

The journey was fraught with danger but ultimately safe; they eventually entered the mechanical city.

"Really?" Tianming looked left and right. "But there's no road here anymore. How are we going to get to the real Mechanical City?"

"Don't worry, someone will come to pick us up soon."

As soon as Master Ban finished speaking, the clicking sound of gears turning came from the empty Ink Canal Pool: "See, they've arrived."

Using several sets of pulleys, an exquisite wooden boat slowly descended from the open sky above the Inkwell Pond. However, when this mechanical creation called the Cloud Boat had completely landed, Master Ban looked puzzled upon seeing the little girl emerging from it: "Moon? Why is it you?"